Helen Lucille Battien

Helen Lucille Irish Battien (Age 83) Our dearest mother and Grandmother Helen Lucille (Irish) Battien passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 23rd in Spokane, WA. Helen was born June 24, 1924 to Bloom and Dorothy (Ventling) Irish at the family home in Dover, Idaho. The family moved to their Dufort farm in 1932, where Helen attended Morton and Long Schools. Helen & her sister Irene went to Sandpoint High School. There were no busses, so they had to live in a small apartment by themselves while they finished High School. Helen received her RN degree at St. Joseph Hospital in Lewiston, ID. Helen had to sell her cow to buy her watch that she needed for her nursing job. She also trained in the Army Nursing Corps in Sheridan, Wyoming. The war ended before she finished her training and Helen returned to the Dufort Farm to drive the team of work horses for her father’s farm, while continuing her nursing career. Helen specialized in Home Health care nursing. She met her beloved husband Ed Battien while taking care of Ed’s father Gus Battien during Gus’s illness. Helen married Ed on November 24, 1951 and they farmed on Hickey Road in Oden until Ed’s passing in 1994. She was a dedicated member of the First Lutheran Church. Ed & Helen frequently chaperoned dances at the Oden Grange Hall. Helen was a member of the Oden Busy Bees. Helen’s husband, Ed, was a supervisor to the Oden Water District and Helen loved to accompany him on his meter readings and Tank inspections. Helen loved to exhibit her cloth paintings, baked goods and her canning at the Bonner County Fairs. She always had fresh bread and pies ready for visitors and family to enjoy. Helen’s greatest joy was caring for her patients while working at Sandpoint Hospital, Home Healthcare and the Sandpoint Manor for 20 years. Helen loved to bake and decorate cakes for all occasions. She also loved to do cloth paintings, read romance novels, solve crossword puzzles, feed the hummingbirds and write letters of love and encouragement to friends and family. As a young woman she loved the baby animals on the farm and later in life she loved eating jelly beans, KFC and Chocolate. Her greatest loves were her family and friends. Helen was a loving & devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her family was the most important thing in her life. She loved her grandchildren & great grandchildren fiercely. She will be greatly missed by all. Helen is survived by her son, Duane Battien of Malden, WA; daughter, Linda Entwisle & husband Dave of Newman Lake, WA. Her grandchildren; Klint Battien, FL; Carmen Quintana, MI; Spencer Hall, Tualatin, OR; Josh Hall, Provo, UT; Spring Van Cleave & husband Dave of Otis Orchards, WA and their children; Jasmyn, Ethan and Grayson Van Cleave (great-grandchildren). Rex Hall & wife Danniele of Spokane, WA and their children; Austin & Ayden Hall (great-grandchildren). Helen’s Sisters: Patty Kelly, Lewiston, ID; Mickey Wagner (Clay), Priest Lake, ID; Irene Andrews, Hot Springs, MT. Nieces and Nephews: Lora Wagner, Spokane, WA; Karen Bishop (Mike), Sagle, ID; Valerie Dickinson & Vic Irish, Kennewick, WA, Brad Wagner, Coeur d’Alene, ID. Devoted friend, Wilma Erickson of Sandpoint, ID. Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband and best friend, Ed Battien; Parents, Bloom and Dorothy Irish; Brother, Walter Irish; Nephew, Steve Kelley. Family and friends are invited to sign Helen’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Her family welcomes all who knew and loved her to join them Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 2:00pm at Coffelt’s Funeral Home, 109 N. Division Ave, Sandpoint, ID 83864 Those wishing to send cards or notes to the family may do so by sending them in care of Linda Entwisle, PO Box 8, Newman Lake, WA 99025.